Latest news with #Dobrindt
Euronews
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
German lawmakers vote to curb family reunification programme
German lawmakers on Friday voted to suspend family reunification rights for migrants who fall short of full asylum status, part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to crack down on immigration. The lower house of Parliament voted 444 to 135 in favour of suspending family reunions for migrants with subsidiary protection, a status granted to people allowed to stay because it's too dangerous to return home, even though they are not officially recognised as refugees. As of the end of March, more than 388,000 people in Germany, primarily Syrians, held subsidiary protection status. The new legislation suspends rules introduced in 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join migrants with this status. Until now, German authorities made case-by-case decisions based on humanitarian grounds, rather than granting an automatic right to family reunification. The law does not affect individuals who have been granted asylum or recognised as refugees under the Geneva Refugee Convention. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers the change would reduce the number of people able to come to Germany by around 12,000 per year and would "break a business model" for human traffickers. Dobrindt defended the measure, arguing that the country's "capacity for integration simply has a limit." "Many people know they won't receive full refugee recognition," Dobrindt said, "but they still head for Germany because it's known that, even without asylum status, you can bring your family later. That creates a strong pull factor, and today, we are eliminating that pull factor." The Social Democrats (SPD) — a member party of Merz's governing coalition — expressed concerns about the legislation but ultimately agreed to it as part of a political compromise. Germany's Minister for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Natalie Pawlik, acknowledged the discomfort within her party, saying, "Integration works better when families are together." She added, however, that the SPD would support the measure, noting it does not apply to so-called hardship cases and is limited to two years. The bill approved on Friday marks the first migration legislation passed since Merz took office. His government has pledged tougher immigration policies amid mounting public pressure.
Al-Ahram Weekly
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Germany to restrict family reunification for refugees - International
German MPs agreed Friday to suspend family reunification rights for refugees without asylum status as conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government pursues a crackdown on immigration. Under the legislation approved by the Bundestag, the process by which family members of refugees with subsidiary protection can apply to come to Germany will be suspended for two years. Refugees with subsidiary protection have not been granted asylum status but are given an initial right to stay in Germany for other reasons, such as the threat of torture or the death penalty in their country of origin. The government has said the suspension is necessary to lift pressure on Germany's immigration and integration services. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told deputies the change reflected the government's priority for "humanity and order" in immigration policy. While Germany remained open to the world, "the resilience of our social systems has its limits", Dobrindt said. Education, housing and care systems were all under pressure, he added. "Therefore, immigration to Germany must also have its limits." The current legal framework caps the number of visas issued to the close family of refugees under subsidiary protection to 1,000 a month. Suspending the right of family reunification would therefore lead to 12,000 fewer people immigrating to Germany each year, Dobrindt said. The change aims to eliminate a "pull effect" that draws migrants to Germany and supports the activities of human traffickers, he argued. Critics say that the right to reunification reflects a humanitarian principle and that refugees who live together with their families integrate better in society. Opponents of the legislation organised a protest outside the Bundestag on Thursday. "When we talk about good integration, the family comes first," Saeed Saeed, 25, one of the protest organisers who works with refugees in Magdeburg, told AFP. Wafaa Mohamed, 42, a dentist from Syria living in Germany under subsidiary protection, said: "We want to make our voices heard to the federal government: we cannot live here without our families." The legislation passed by MPs includes exceptions for hardship cases, such as family members in urgent need of medical care. It also states that the initial suspension should be reviewed at the end of the two-year period and could be suspended. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Sun
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Germany limits family reunification for refugees in new immigration policy
BERLIN: German MPs agreed Friday to suspend family reunification rights for refugees without asylum status as conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government pursues a crackdown on immigration. Under the legislation approved by the Bundestag, the process by which family members of refugees with subsidiary protection can apply to come to Germany will be suspended for two years. Refugees with subsidiary protection have not been granted asylum status but are given an initial right to stay in Germany for other reasons, such as the threat of torture or the death penalty in their country of origin. The government has said the suspension is necessary to lift pressure on Germany's immigration and integration services. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told deputies the change reflected the government's priority for 'humanity and order' in immigration policy. While Germany remained open to the world, 'the resilience of our social systems has its limits', Dobrindt said. Education, housing and care systems were all under pressure, he added. 'Therefore, immigration to Germany must also have its limits.' The current legal framework caps the number of visas issued to the close family of refugees under subsidiary protection to 1,000 a month. Suspending the right of family reunification would therefore lead to 12,000 fewer people immigrating to Germany each year, Dobrindt said. The change aims to eliminate a 'pull effect' that draws migrants to Germany and supports the activities of human traffickers, he argued. Critics say that the right to reunification reflects a humanitarian principle and that refugees who live together with their families integrate better in society. Opponents of the legislation organised a protest outside the Bundestag on Thursday. 'When we talk about good integration, the family comes first,' Saeed Saeed, 25, one of the protest organisers who works with refugees in Magdeburg, told AFP. Wafaa Mohamed, 42, a dentist from Syria living in Germany under subsidiary protection, said: 'We want to make our voices heard to the federal government: we cannot live here without our families.' The legislation passed by MPs includes exceptions for hardship cases, such as family members in urgent need of medical care. It also states that the initial suspension should be reviewed at the end of the two-year period and could be suspended.
21 hours ago
- Politics
German lawmakers vote to suspend family reunions for many migrants
BERLIN -- German lawmakers voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration. Parliament's lower house voted 444-135 to suspend the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum. At the end of March, more than 388,000 people living in Germany had the status, which was granted to many people fleeing Syria's civil war. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February. Just after he took office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. The bill approved Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office. It will suspend rules dating to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join the migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that the change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers. People often know they won't get full recognition as refugees, 'but they set off for Germany because it is known that, even without asylum recognition ... you can have your family follow," Dobrindt said. "That is a significant pull effect and we are removing this pull effect today.' Dobrindt said 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.' Liberal opposition lawmakers decried the government's approach. Marcel Emmerich, of the Greens, described the legislation as 'an attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family.' 'Anyone who wants integration must bring families together,' he said. The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany described the move as a very small step in the right direction. German governments have for years faced pressure to curb migration as shelters across the country filled up. The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, already had taken some measures including the introduction of checks on all Germany's borders. Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and have continued to fall this year.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
German lawmakers vote to suspend family reunions for many migrants
BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration. Parliament's lower house voted 444-135 to suspend the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum. At the end of March, more than 388,000 people living in Germany had the status, which was granted to many people fleeing Syria's civil war. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February. Just after he took office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. The bill approved Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office. It will suspend rules dating to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join the migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that the change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers. People often know they won't get full recognition as refugees, 'but they set off for Germany because it is known that, even without asylum recognition … you can have your family follow,' Dobrindt said. 'That is a significant pull effect and we are removing this pull effect today.' Dobrindt said 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.' Liberal opposition lawmakers decried the government's approach. Marcel Emmerich, of the Greens, described the legislation as 'an attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family.' 'Anyone who wants integration must bring families together,' he said. The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany described the move as a very small step in the right direction. German governments have for years faced pressure to curb migration as shelters across the country filled up. The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, already had taken some measures including the introduction of checks on all Germany's borders. Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and have continued to fall this year.
